The Federal Government has approved a 40% peculiar allowance for federal civil servants under the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS), a move aimed at cushioning the impact of the rising cost of living and recent economic shifts.
This decision follows weeks of mounting tension and a decisive threat of industrial action from organized labor unions, who had demanded immediate government intervention to address the erosion of purchasing power among public workers.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, in conjunction with the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, finalized the directive to ensure that the new increment is reflected in the payroll of eligible workers across various federal ministries, departments, and agencies.
While the allowance specifically targets those on the CONPSS scale, officials noted that it serves as a stopgap measure while the government continues to evaluate a more comprehensive review of the national minimum wage.
Labour leaders, who had previously issued a showdown notice to the government, expressed a cautious sense of victory following the announcement.
They acknowledged the allowance as a necessary relief for workers struggling with high inflation and transport costs but maintained that they would continue to monitor the implementation process to ensure every entitled worker receives the payment without delay.
The approval is expected to take retroactive effect, with arrears being processed to provide immediate financial liquidity to the federal workforce.
